Lead Quality Engineer

The Lead Quality Engineer plays a key role in ensuring that products and processes meet both quality standards and customer expectations. Collaborating with Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Sales teams, this position focuses on identifying and resolving quality concerns while overseeing the implementation of robust quality systems and procedures. This leadership role involves guiding teams, managing quality-related projects, and driving continuous improvement initiatives to enhance product reliability and operational efficiency.Essential Duties & Responsibilities:Supervise and mentor a team of quality engineers, fostering professional growth and performance excellence.Delegate responsibilities and balance team workloads to meet quality objectives and project timelines.Ensure uniform quality practices across all product lines through coaching and oversight.Monitor product quality throughout its lifecycle, ensuring compliance with specifications and industry standards from raw materials to final product delivery.Develop and conduct training programs to reinforce quality processes, procedures, and best practices.Perform high-level risk assessments to proactively identify and address potential quality challenges.Create, review, and approve quality plans, inspection protocols, and testing plans to ensure product compliance with requirements.Oversee product and document audit programs, ensuring adherence to quality management system (QMS) protocols and leading corrective actions as necessary.Define methodologies for collecting quality data, analyze trends, and implement improvements using statistical analysis and Lean Six Sigma techniques.Lead root cause investigations for significant quality concerns, implementing corrective actions to prevent recurrence and ensure comprehensive resolution.Serve as the primary liaison for customer complaints, ensuring timely investigation, resolution, and communication with customers and leadership.Establish and enhance quality standards and processes, aligning them with organizational objectives and regulatory requirements to boost efficiency and product integrity.Manage and drive quality improvement initiatives, ensuring timely implementation of solutions that enhance product and process performance.Assess and oversee supplier quality, ensuring all purchased materials and components adhere to required specifications and industry standards.Qualifications & Experience:Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.A minimum of 10 years of experience in quality engineering within a manufacturing environment, including at least 3 years in a leadership role.Preferred certifications: Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), Six Sigma Black Belt (SSBB).Strong knowledge of ISO 9001/AS9100 standards and GD&T principles.Hands-on experience with Design of Experiments (DOE), Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), quality planning, inspection test plans (ITP), and root cause analysis methodologies.Proven ability to manage multiple projects with strong organizational and time management skills.Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and critical thinking capabilities.Proficiency in statistical analysis tools such as Minitab and Microsoft Excel.Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.Detail-oriented mindset with exceptional organizational abilities.Ability to inspire and lead a team, fostering a collaborative and high-performance environment.

Created: 2025-02-25